(Adnkronos) – The European Union today summoned the Rwandan ambassador to ask Kigali to withdraw its troops from the neighboring Democratic Republic of Congo and to stop supporting the offensive by the armed group M23. M23 forces have seized large areas of mineral-rich eastern DRC, including the cities of Goma and Bukavu, despite resistance from Congolese forces. “The European Union today summoned the Rwandan ambassador to the EU over the ongoing offensive by the Rwandan Defence Force (RDF) and the M23 in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC),” the EU said in a statement.
“The Rwandan government must immediately withdraw all RDF troops from DRC territory and cease all support to the M23 and any other armed group.” UN experts claim that Rwanda effectively controls the M23 and has at least 4,000 soldiers fighting alongside the group. But Kigali has denied involvement in the conflict and says it faces a threat from Hutu fighters in the DRC. The EU’s move comes after Germany summoned the Rwandan ambassador to Berlin yesterday and the US imposed sanctions on Rwandan Minister for Regional Integration James Kabarebe.
